Coastal Carbon Data: Ship-Based Surface Underway Measurements

NCEI Accession 0084543 and NODC Accession 0115605 contain surface underway measurements of carbon dioxide fugacity and related variables from research cruises. The data were collected using carbon dioxide gas analyzers and equilibrators on vessels like the AEGAEO and METEOR. These datasets are part of the Global Coastal Carbon Data Project, focusing on carbon cycle dynamics in coastal and open ocean regions.

Use Cases

• Calculating air-sea CO2 flux gradients based on partial pressure measurements in water and atmosphere.
• Analyzing correlations between sea surface temperature, salinity, and carbon dioxide fugacity.
• Studying regional carbon cycle variability in coastal seas like the Aegean and Mediterranean.
• Validating ocean carbon models using in-situ underway measurements from specific cruises.

Strengths

• Data includes direct, instrument-based measurements of carbon dioxide fugacity using specialized analyzers and equilibrators.
• Covers multiple distinct geographic regions and cruises, including the Aegean Sea (2006) and North Atlantic (1994).
• Associated with specific research projects and principal investigators, providing clear scientific context.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are not provided in the available metadata.
• Conflicting platform metadata: one source lists the last update as 2026-03-05, while others list the collection end date (1994-11-12, 2006-02-13).
• Row counts and dataset sizes are unknown, limiting assessment of data volume.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) / CDIAC (Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center)

Collection Method

Surface underway observations collected from research vessels using carbon dioxide gas analyzers and shower head chamber equilibrators.

Time Range

1994-10-12 to 2006-02-13

Freshness

2026-03-05 (most recent administrative update on Data.gov)

Geography

Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, English Channel, Indian Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, North Sea